Site history
In 1939 a Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) was established at the current site location in support of the war effort.
The first Certificate of Authorisation for the disposal of low level waste was granted in 1958 and disposal operations began in 1959 when ownership passed to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Initially disposal occurred in purpose built trenches to accommodate tumble tipping (there are seven trenches in all). This practice continued until an engineered vault was designed and constructed. Vault 8 became available in 1988.
The engineered vault heralded a new approach to the treatment and disposal of LLW with the placement of items in ISO freight containers that would subsequently be grouted and transported to the Vault. Advances in technology resulted in the construction of a compaction facility (WAMAC) at Sellafield site that reduces the volume of waste thus maximising capacity.
In addition to the disposal of LLW the site also stored Plutonium Contaminated Material (PCM), a legacy from the 1950’s. The PCM retrievals project witnessed a landmark event in July 2007 with the safe return of all bulk PCM to Sellafield site. The second phase of this project is ongoing with retrieval and transportation of Hex cylinders and secondary PCM waste during 2007/2008 and the ultimate decommissioning of the PCM facilities by 2010.
A new Site Licence Company (SLC) was formed on 29th July 2007 – The LLW Repository Limited.
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